title: Curdlan, a (1----3)-beta-D-glucan from Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes IFO13140, activates the alternative complement pathway by heat treatment.
abstract: From the results of consumption experiments of guinea pig complement, Curdlan, a (1----3)-beta-D-glucan obtained from Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes IFO13140, has been found to lack the ability to activate complement when unheated or preheated at either 40 degrees C or 50 degrees C. However, Curdlan heated at or above 60 degrees C increased complement consumption. This activation, dependent on the temperature of the Curdlan, was via the alternative complement pathway as assessed by cleavage of factor B into Ba and Bb fragments. These results suggest a substantial change must occur in Curdlan with heat treatment for alternative pathway activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsushita
mesh_terms: D000421:Alcaligenes; D000818:Animals; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015941:Complement Hemolytic Activity Assay; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative / Q000187:drug effects*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005936:Glucans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006358:Hot Temperature; D015151:Immunoblotting; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D047071:beta-Glucans
chemical_list: D005936:Glucans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C038459:curdlan